10 things you need to know today: March 27, 2023

1. Netanyahu fires defense minister for opposing judicial overhaul

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday after Gallant called for Netanyahu's far-right government to halt its push to overhaul the judicial system, saying opposition to the plan, including within the military, threatened security. Gallant's dismissal intensified fear that Netanyahu would push through the divisive plan, triggering massive protests overnight and a widespread strike, although Netanyahu reportedly is still considering whether to proceed with the changes. Netanyahu's proposal to give the government greater control over appointing judges and curb the Supreme Court's ability to overturn legislation has fueled weeks of unrest. Critics say the government's effort to weaken judicial independence amounts to an attack on the country's democracy.

CNN The Jerusalem Post

2. NATO condemns Putin's 'irresponsible' nuclear rhetoric

NATO on Sunday called Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus "dangerous and irresponsible." Ukraine condemned Putin's rhetoric, too, calling for an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting to address Russia's "nuclear blackmail." Putin said Saturday that his decision was similar to the United States' storing of dozens of nuclear weapons in Europe. Putin's remarks were not unexpected, but they marked an escalation of his veiled references to the possibility of a tactical nuclear strike in Ukraine, where his forces are bogged down more than a year after invading. Experts said Putin's decision marked a significant reversal from his previous boasting that unlike the U.S., Russia didn't deploy nuclear weapons in other countries.

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Reuters Aljazeera

3. More tornado threats hamper rescuers after deadly Mississippi, Alabama storm

Tornado threats continued in the South on Sunday as rescuers searched for victims of a storm that crashed through Mississippi and Alabama over the weekend, leaving at least 26 people dead. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves toured areas that suffered "heartbreaking" damage after President Biden declared a major disaster. Reeves said it was inspiring to see people in hard-hit Rolling Fork stepping up to help neighbors after a powerful tornado flattened the town of 2,000. "It gives me great reason for optimism, and quite frankly makes me damn proud to be a Mississippian," Reeves said. Rescue efforts were hampered by continuing severe weather. Parts of west-central Georgia reported damage from another tornado.

The New York Times The Weather Channel

4. First Citizens acquires Silicon Valley Bank's loans, deposits

First Citizens BancShares announced Monday that it is buying a large part of failed Silicon Valley Bank, which collapsed two weeks ago after a run on its deposits and triggered a crisis that spread across the banking system. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said First Citizens, one of the largest U.S. regional banks, would acquire SVB's $72 billion in loans at a discount of $16.5 billion, $56 billion in deposits, and all 17 of its branches, which will reopen Monday under First Citizens' ownership. About $90 billion of SVB securities remain in receivership. First Citizens will get a line of credit with the FDIC and an agreement with the regulator to share losses, giving it protection from potential SVB losses.

Reuters

5. Hong Kong sees 1st protest since China restricted rights

About 100 people participated in a rally in Hong Kong on Sunday, the first protest since China imposed tough restrictions on the rights of people in the semi-autonomous territory. The demonstrators were marching against a land reclamation plan in the eastern part of the financial hub. Police imposed tight restrictions on the event, cordoning off protesters from the press. Participants had to wear number tags, and authorities vetted their banners ahead of time, although the demonstrators were allowed to chant slogans in opposition to the project. One demonstrator, requesting anonymity, said the conditions were "ridiculous." "I am here to join a march, not a shame parade," he said.

BBC News The Associated Press

6. Florence officials invite Florida parents to see Michelangelo's David in person

Officials at the Florence museum that is home to Michelangelo's Renaissance masterpiece the David on Sunday invited families from Tallahassee Classical School to visit after a sixth-grade art class was shown images of the famous statue, sparking uproar. The school's board forced Principal Hope Carrasquilla to resign last week after a parent complained, saying the nude male figure in the statue amounted to "pornography." Carrasquilla was accused of violating a school policy that requires notifying parents before "controversial" lessons. Florence Mayor Dario Nardella also tweeted an invitation for Carrasquilla to visit, saying it was "ridiculous" to confuse art with pornography.

The Associated Press

7. Elon Musk values Twitter at $20 billion in email to workers

Elon Musk sent an email to Twitter employees over the weekend offering them stock grants valuing the social media company at about $20 billion, less than half of what he paid for it, The Information and The New York Times reported Sunday. Musk, who bought the company for $44 billion in October, made the announcement in an email about a new stock compensation program. Musk said the company remains in dire financial shape. He said at one point it was four months away from running out of money and still needed "radical changes" like more layoffs, the Times reported. "Twitter is being reshaped rapidly," Musk wrote, likening Twitter under his control to "an inverse start-up."

The New York Times The Information

8. Italy seizes migrant-rescue ship funded by Banksy

Italy's coast guard on Sunday seized a rescue ship funded by British street artist Banksy, accusing the crew of disobeying an order to go to Sicily under a new law adopted in Italy this year setting rules for migrant charity ships. The 100-foot-long pink and white vessel, named the Louise Michel after a French feminist anarchist, ignored the order to dock in Trapani, Sicily, and instead picked up migrants in Libya's Search and Rescue area. It then assisted people on three other migrant boats in Malta's Search and Rescue area. It docked with 178 migrants on board in Lampedusa, south of Sicily and west of Malta, where Italian authorities seized it.

Reuters

9. San Diego State, Miami round out men's Final Four

San Diego State beat Creighton to advance to the Final Four in the men's NCAA basketball tournament for the first time in the school's history. The Aztecs' Darrion Trammell made the second of two free throws with 1.2 seconds left in the South Regional final to put his team up 57-56, and Creighton didn't have enough time to score again. Miami beat Texas 88-81 in the Midwest final to qualify for its first national March Madness semifinal, rounding out a Final Four that includes UConn and Florida Atlantic. In the women's tournament, Iowa beat Louisville and LSU beat Miami to take the first two spots in the Final Four.

USA Today ESPN

10. 'John Wick: Chapter 4' dominates weekend box office

John Wick: Chapter 4 led the domestic box office over the weekend, bringing in $73.5 million in ticket sales in its debut. It was the biggest opening yet for the John Wick action franchise, beating the previous high of $56.8 million by John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum in its 2019 debut. The record continued a trend that has seen the series' opening haul rise with each new installment. The original film opened with $14 million at the domestic box office. Chapter 4 also brought in $64 million internationally, for a global total of $137.5 million. Trailing far behind, Shazam 2 dropped sharply to bring in $9.7 million in its second weekend.

The Hollywood Reporter